Hi, sorry if this has been covered already but I have been reading hundreds of posts on various subjects and sometimes find it difficult to get the answer I am looking for.
I have a 7ft 3/4# rod, 4# DT floating line to which I want to attach a tapered leader, I will be fishing small rivers and streams, what is the correct size of tapered leader for the DT4# line and what is the best method to attach it to the fly line.
john

Here you will find exactly the information you need. To start with use the shorter measurements to build your leader and experiment from there onwards.

richard

__________________
Who resides on the right bank of the Derbyshire Wye and is lulled to sleep each night by the mutterings of a weir, dreaming that "When the rivers and their inhabitants come first, we ALL win..."

Thanks Richard,

Because I am a bit of a novice I thought I would try the knotless tapered leaders (from the shop) not the home made ones, I thought I would do the home made ones later.

So, I would like to know which size of tapered leader I need and the best connection method with the DT4# line.

However, I don't think I like the idea of a braided loop on the end of the DT4# and a knot from leader to the DT4#, so I may go the home made way in the end if that's what's required.

Also, which tippet material and size would you recommend.
john

You might wish to consider purchasing a 9ft, tapered leader that tapers to a 5x point (that usually equates to something around 5lb breaking strain but will vary according to material - diameter, the 'x' factor, is much more important than breaking strain).

If you are fishing small streams I would be tempted to cut a couple of feet from the butt end of the leader and then add 2 or so feet of 6x tippet. To attach the leader to the end of your 4wt fly line have a look at the C & F Nail Knot tool. Basically, it allows you to thread the leader through the end of the fly line and then complete a nail knot to secure the leader - a very tidy and unobtrusive arrangement.

__________________
[I]"I still don't know why I fish or why other men fish, except that we like it and it makes us think and feel."[/I] Roderick L Haig-Brown

[url]www.wildfly.net[/url]

[url]http://www.gameanglinginstructors.co.uk/[/url]

Personally, I prefer to tie mine before each trip. Say 5ft of 35llbs 3ft of 20lbs and 2ft of 12lbs attaching each length using a 2 turn water knot or 3 turn double grinner.... 2 - 3ft of leader to the single dry...to a 3 inch 'greased up' braided butt.. same on stillwaters... wonderful turnover.

sounds like you need one of Mr Trout 3ft furled leaders

Get hold of a copy of "A Fly Fisher's Life" by Charles Ritz and try his Rafale leader - 9ft long 23lb butt tapering to 3lb tippet. Pain in the ar$e to tie but will turn over a house brick into a howling gale. Sometimes old is good!

Alternatively Fulling Mill tapered mono leaders are good with big butts for good presentation.

It's all there in the blog. Nylon for the butt and mid-section, co-polymer for the rest. For your 7ft rod, try making your first leader about three yards long including the tippet and make the tippet out of 5X co-polymer (about 5lbs BS). Stick to that until you fee confident about using a long leader, then start your experiments...

richard

__________________
Who resides on the right bank of the Derbyshire Wye and is lulled to sleep each night by the mutterings of a weir, dreaming that "When the rivers and their inhabitants come first, we ALL win..."

Make life & fishing simple, buy a knot-less tapered leader in both 7 foot and 9 foot lengths. Depending on the size fly and the fish you are after choose 5 or 6X for the tippet size. If you need to make a 7' 5X leader longer it is simple to add a foot or two of 6X tippet.

To fix the leader to the fly line is another story. Are you dealing with a fishing shop? If so they can help you, if not then we have other things to discuss. If you want to expand this conversation send me a PM and I will offer more in the way of connection solutions.

Ard

I wouldn't reccomend that you cut off a section from the butt. These leaders are constructed to work as a total length, and any changes, does uposet the dynamic to an extent. If it is too long, then an otpion would be to look at your casting before tampering with the equipment.
Regarding the tippett selection for the leader, a simple rule of thumb, is as follows:-
If it is a 5X leader, attach a 6X tippet, if it is a 4X leader, attach a 5X tippet. step the tippet down, by one X rating to the X rating of the leader. If you are going to step it down furter, ie two different diameters of tippet to make the leader longer, then you can do this, but be carefull to do it progressively, with similar lengths of tippet, ie 30cm of 6X and then 30 cm of 7X.
Remember that presentation, is what you want it to be, and is largely dependent on the quality of your cast. leader setup, is a very subjective matter, and each and every person might be comfortable with a different setup, but at the end of the day, it's the result that counts.
Also, the leader setup, particularly when fishinmg a technical river, is more important than the rod and line. It's the leader that will determine the end result, while the rod and line are simply the tools to deliver the leader in a satisfactory manner, so there might be a different leader construction depending on the rod and line you fish with. I have different leader formulae for each different rod i choose to fish with, but if you are choosing the knotless tapered option, there isn't much experimenting you can do, except to play around with the tippets.